Entry Level Forensic Psychologist Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Requisition No: 879480 

Agency: Children and Families

Working Title: SOCIAL SERVICES COUNSELOR-F/C - 60006689

 Pay Plan: Career Service

Position Number: 60006689 

Salary:  $1461.54 - $1954.62 Bi-weekly 

Posting Closing Date: 07/24/2026 

Total Compensation Estimator Tool

The Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) is the state of Florida's social services agency. The agency oversees services for child safety, fostering, adoption, domestic violence, adult protective services, refugees, homelessness, mental health, substance abuse, childcare providers, human trafficking and public assistance. The agency's mission is to work in partnership with local communities to protect the vulnerable, promote strong and economically self-sufficient families, and advance personal and family recovery and resiliency.

Within DCF, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health (SAMH) Program office is recognized as the single state authority for substance abuse and mental health services. The Office of SAMH is statutorily responsible for the planning, evaluation, and implementation of a comprehensive statewide system of care for the prevention, treatment, and recovery of children and adults with serious mental illnesses or substance use disorders.

North Florida Evaluation and Treatment Center (NFETC) is a 216 bed, all male, forensic, mental health rehabilitation facility. The Center is located in northeast Gainesville, Florida on 639 picturesque acres with regular sightings of deer, turkey, and other wildlife. NFETC employs a variety of entry level to leadership positions including food service, maintenance, direct care, nurses, counselors, rehab therapists, medical doctors, security, psychiatrists, and psychologists.

NORTH FLORIDA EVALUATION AND TREATMENT FACILITY IS A TOBACCO FREE FACILITY.

TO BE CONSIDERED FOR THIS POSITION RESPONSES TO THE QUALIFYING QUESTIONS ARE REQUIRED AND MUST BE VERIFIABLE BASED ON YOUR SUBMITTED APPLICATION.

This is a highly responsible and professional position serving as the Social Services Counselor- F/C within the Recovery Unit. The ideal candidate will be a collaborative team player who works seamlessly across all sections within the program office. This role requires the use of independent judgment, a proactive approach to responsibilities, and exceptional attention to detail. If you are driven, organized, and thrive in a fast-paced environment, we encourage you to apply.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities include:

• Prepare clinical summaries and reports for the courts and to other agencies within established timelines. Summary development will begin upon notification of a resident's admission and will accurately reflect consensus of Recovery Team opinion as ultimately determined by attending psychiatrist.
• Will carry a clinical case load of up to 16 residents. As an active member of the recovery team, counselors will participate in admissions, clinical rounds, intensive intervention assessments, and other team meetings as indicated. Counselors will attend a weekly case review group meeting with peers and assigned psychologist to process cases, identify special needs, disseminate information, provide clinical supervision, consultation and role modeling.
• Develop, implement, and update recovery service plans for each assigned resident according to measurable goals described in treatment and care plan. Responsible for coordinating rehabilitation activities into the recovery plan to meet the residents' goals. Counselors will be responsible for coordinating with rehabilitation staff.  Modify recovery service plan to address changes in resident needs or status.  Serve as liaison with community service providers to develop aftercare plans and to facilitate discharge planning. Notifies assigned psychiatrist/psychologist and nursing staff of status changes or special needs of the residents. Link assigned residents to appropriate therapeutic activities and serve as a liaison with other departments to ensure the resident receives indicated clinical services.
• Provide each assigned resident individual counseling and case management services to include contact with families, community mental health providers, and courts. Document resident issues and resolutions as indicated and per CFOP and Center policy.  Serve as a coordinator and advisor to building treatment and rehabilitative staff regarding resident behavior management and responsibilities regarding implementation of all recovery service plans.  Work closely with Recovery Team members to identify safety concerns regarding assigned clients and address those concerns in a timely manner.  Document and communicate concerns and plans to all relevant staff.
• Develop and implement educational group counseling for residents. Provide written documentation in clinical records of sessions, progress, and delivery of services according to measurable goals described in recovery plan. Monthly progress note in chart will reflect the group services provided. Track residents' involvement in these services and encourage residents active participation in their own recovery.  Participate in the training of building staff regarding clinical issues.
• Attend, and actively participate in, monthly Building Leadership Team meetings.  Attend scheduled Utilization Management Team meetings for assigned caseload and discuss barriers to discharge for all clients assigned.  Work closely with QMHP assigned to Recovery Team to identify and address barriers to discharge for all assigned clients, facilitating efficient transition of residents back to the committing court as competent, or to a less restrictive setting.
• Other duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities required for the position:

• Knowledge of counseling techniques and practices.
• Knowledge of the principles and practices of social work, nursing, education or counseling.
• Knowledge of methods of compiling, organizing and analyzing data.
• Ability to develop treatment or rehabilitation programs.
• Ability to develop guidelines and procedures for the delivery of social services.
• Ability to develop and present staff development and training programs.
• Ability to plan, organize and coordinate work assignments.
• Ability to follow through on all phases of the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of clients.
• Ability to provide casework services to clients.
• Ability to collect, analyze and interpret data.
• Ability to communicate effectively.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with others.

Minimum Qualifications:

• A bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, education or nursing is preferred and three years of professional experience in providing social work, health education, nursing or counseling services; or
• A master's degree from an accredited college or university in social work, psychology, education or nursing and two years of professional experience as described above.

Candidate Profile (application) must be completed in its entirety:

• Include supervisor names and phone numbers for all periods of employment.
• Account for and explain any gaps in employment so that the hiring process is not delayed.
• Experience, education, training, knowledge, skills and/or abilities as well as responses to pre-qualifying questions must be verifiable to meet the minimum qualifications. 
• It is unacceptable to use the statement "See Resume" in place of responding to qualifying questions and entering work history.
• If you experience problems applying online, please call the People First Service Center at (877) 562-7287.

Benefits of Working for the State of Florida:

• Working for the State of Florida is more than a paycheck. The State's total compensation package for employees features a highly competitive set of employee benefits.
• For a more complete list of benefits, visit www.mybenefits.myflorida.com.

       
DCF EMPLOYMENT DISCLOSURES

US CITIZEN REQUIREMENT Only US citizens and lawfully authorized alien workers will be hired.

SELECTIVE SERVICE SYSTEM REGISTRATION All selected male candidates born on or after October 1, 1962, will not be eligible for hire or promotion into an authorized position unless they are registered with the Selective Service System (SSS).  Verification of Selective Service registration will be conducted prior to hire.  For more information, please visit the SSS website: http://www.sss.gov.

RETIREE NOTICE If you are a retiree of the Florida Retirement System (FRS), please check with the FRS on how your current benefits will be affected if you are re-employed with the State of Florida. Your current retirement benefits may be suspended or voided, and you required to repay all benefits received depending upon the date of your retirement.

BACKGROUND SCREENING It is the policy of the Florida Department of Children and Families that any applicant being considered for employment must successfully complete a State and National criminal history check as a condition of employment before beginning employment, and, if applicable, also be screened in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 435, F.S., and Chapter 408, F.S.  No applicant may begin employment until the background screening results are received, reviewed for any disqualifying offenses, and approved by the Agency.  Background screening shall include, but not be limited to, fingerprinting for State and Federal criminal records checks through the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and may include local criminal history checks through local law enforcement agencies.

Candidates requiring a reasonable accommodation, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act, must notify the agency hiring authority and/or People First Service Center (1-866-663-4735). Notification to the hiring authority must be made in advance to allow sufficient time to provide the accommodation.

The State of Florida supports a Drug-Free workplace. All employees are subject to reasonable suspicion drug testing in accordance with Section 112.0455, F.S., Drug-Free Workplace Act.

VETERANS' PREFERENCE.  Pursuant to Chapter 295, Florida Statutes, candidates eligible for Veterans' Preference will receive preference in employment for Career Service vacancies and are encouraged to apply.  Certain service members may be eligible to receive waivers for postsecondary educational requirements.  Candidates claiming Veterans' Preference must attach supporting documentation with each submission that includes character of service (for example, DD Form 214 Member Copy #4) along with any other documentation as required by Rule 55A-7, Florida Administrative Code.  Veterans' Preference documentation requirements are available by clicking here.  All documentation is due by the close of the vacancy announcement.